hopkins



(No Model.)

B. B. HOPKINS.

Bed Urinal.

'No 241,863. Patented May 24,1881.

jwen/iar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA B. HOPKINS, OF MADISON, NEW YORK.

B ED-URINAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,863, dated May 24, I881.

Application filed February 1, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELISHA B. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Madison and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Urinals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to chamber-vessels, more particularly to those made for the use of invalids and commonly known as bed-urinals.

My improved urinal is preferably made of rubber, some parts varyingfrom others in thickness, and has a neck provided at its mouth with a lip, by which it may be heldin position by the patient; and when for the use of a female the mouth is further provided with a tongue, to be inserted in the vagina. Within the neck which forms a passage to the receptacle is placed a valve, which operates on the principle of the cardiac valve, the said valve being joined to or made solid with the neck and divided at the center, so that it may be opened by pressure on the outside of the neck, and will close automatically when the neck is released from pressure. To insure the valve to open downward or toward the main receptacle the valve is made somewhat convex. The vessel is providcdwith a handle atthe bottom for convenience in handling.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure t represents the-im proved urinal as made for the use of females, Fig. 2'is a Vertical section taken on line :17 a; of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on said line y y, and showing the .neck compressed between the thumb and finger and the valve open. Fig. 5 represents the neck and mouth as modified for the use of males.

A designates the body of the urinal, and B the neck, the latter having formed at the mouth a lip or hand-piece, a, and a tongue, 11, the lip being held against the body above the orifice to the vagina (in the case ofa female) and the tongue passing into the vagina when the vessel is in use, the parts indicated by a and b being of rubber or other soft elastic material.

The mouth of the urinal is readily applied, and the tongue I), formed for the purpose, as shown, is easily inserted.

Within the neck B is placed a valve, 0, which is divided across the center, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the two parts of the valve being joined to the inner surface of the neck or made solid therewith, so that the only openin g is between the two parts. In its usual position the valve is closed and water-tight, it being opened by pressure against the neck on the outside. In Fig. 4 the neck B is shown compressed between the thumb and finger, thus opening the valve.

Two projections, d, on the outside of the neck B indicate the points to be pressed in order to open the valve, the neck being made thickest about the valve. The valve is made somewhat convex, bulging downward, (see Fig. 2,) so that it readily opens from pressure, and, being of elastic material, it closes autoniatically when released from pressure.

When made for the use of males the neck B is in a modified form, as shown in Fig. 5, the neck being provided with a lip, a, for holding, but without the tongue.

The mouth of the urinal, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is usually provided with an inward rim, g, said rim serving to prevent the escape of urine at the mouth, and a groove (indicated by dotted line h) is made in the inner surface of the neck to form a channel.

I claim as my invention- 1. A bed-urinal having a neck the mouth of which is provided with a lip or hand-piece, a, and tongue I), said tongue being formed of elastic material, whereby it may be inserted, as herein specified.

2. A bed-urinal having aneck of elastic material, within which is a valve, 0, adapted to be opened by compression of the neck, substantially as set forth.

3. A bed-urinal of elastic material provided with a neck, B, having the lip a and tongue I), the valve 0 within the neck, and rim 9 at the mouth, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELISHA B. HOPKINS.

Witnesses I. D. PEASLEE, W. H. FOWLER, Jr. 

